Locomotive-tender-tank feeder



Sept. 11, 1928. v 1,684,319

' S. HEiDEN LOCOMOTIVE TENDER TANK FEEDER Filed March 22, 1927 2 SheetsSheet 1 b f cs J C 6:1

9 1 I w- 1 i i Inventor Jz'mav/[edem flmaoi ih Attarn 1,684,319 s. HEIDEN LOCOMOTIVE TEiiDER TANK FEEDER Filed March 22. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fn'vemfor Jz'mmz ffez'dezv,

Attarnqy Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES snvron nnrnnn, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LoooMoTIvE-TnnnEn-TANK FEEDER. 1

Application filed March 22, 1927. Serial No. 177,443.

The present invention relates to an proved locomotive tender tank feeder. that a means for lillin the tender tank with water. and it has more particular reference to a structure which feeds the water-while the train is in motion.

Briefly, the invention has reference to a structure of this kind. which embodies a suit-- ably constructed and supported mono-rail upon which a storage tank is mounted for movement, the storage tank including a control valve and operating means therefor which is controlled by novel co-acting means carried by the locomotive tender tank.

The arrangeniient is such that when the last named n'ieans engages the valve operat ng means on thoreservoir or storage tank, the latter is carried along the rail to a predetermined point after which it is automatically returned to a normal or starting position.

The particular featurestorming the alleged novelty will become apparent from the following description and drawings:

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the complete structure and the approximate manner of operation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rail.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional and elevational view on an enlarged scale showing the internal constructiono'i the reservoir more plainly.

Figure l is a view showing the valve operating means for the water supply pipe.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of sa d supply pipe and valve operating means.

In the drawings. the reference character 1 designates the suspension rail which comprises a single rail having an upwardly inclined portion 2 terminating in a somewhat elevated part 3. This rail is supported from right angular brackets 4 carried by the stand ards or posts 5. Obviously the posts and rails are arranged alongside of the track on-which the tender tank 6 runs. The tank is provided with a filler neck 7 and a splash guard 8. Also on one end it is provided with a bumper bracket 9, and with a comparatively short valve actuating bracket 10. The cooperation of these parts will be brought out later.

The reservoir or travelling tank which contains the water is designated generally by the reference character 11. This is in the form of an open top rectangular box adapted to hold a predetermined quantity of water. Rising from the opposite end are supporting elements 12 for the grooved wheels 13, which upper end which is located over the travelling tank. Before considering the details of this pipe, I 'ifllSll wish to direct attention to the tank 11, which includes a discharge mouth 19 at its bottom adapted to align with the neck 7. This mouth is constructed to accommodate a closing valve 20, which is carried by a pivoted link 21, on the interior of the tank. This link 21 is operated from a bell crank 22 pivoted as at 23 on the exterior.

One arm 24 of this crank is connectedwith a lifting pin, which is in turn connected with the intermediate portion ot the link 21. The opposite curved 25. is adapted to cooperate with thea'ioresaid bracket 10. Attention is now especially invited to F igure 4;, wherein it will be seen that the discharge end of the water supply pipe 18 is pro *ided with a constricted end portion hav- .ing a valve seat 26. with which a plug valve 27 is engageable. This valve is on the end of the curved o 'ierating arm 28 having the extension 29. A suitable bracket 30 is provided for supporting the arm. Means is provided on the travelling tank 11 for operating this valve 27 through the medium of the parts 28 and 29. This means comprises a pair of cross bars 31, and 32, extending across the open top of the tank 11.. These bars are provided with holes through which the stem 33 of the float 34: is mounted. As shown better in Figure 3, the upper end of this float stem 83 has an upwardly inclined operating finger 35, and a downwardly inclined linger 36, these being located in spaced relation to engage the ()XtQIlsion 29. i

It is yet to be pointed out, as shown in Figure 1, that I employ a pivoted return arm 37, and this arm has its opposite ends directed laterally inwardly from the supporting post, and a suitable spring 38 is provided for holding itin the approximate position shown. Incidentally there is another coil spring 39 mounted on the tank 11, and this is adapt-ed for cooperation with this pivoted arm 37.

Attention is also invited to the presence of a resilient latch 40 which is fastened to one end of the tank. This is formed on its free him end with a beveled head which is adapted to engage an appropriate keeper ll 011 the post 17. Obviously, these details are advantageous, for when the tank returns to its normal position, the latch snaps over the keeper and holds the tank here to prevent undesirable recoiling.

Incidentally, the upper end of the aforesaid bracket 9 is beveled forengagement with the head of the latch so that when the tender comes along, this bracket will engage the latch for lifting it and disengaging it from the keeper.

' The operation is as follows: Normally, the travelling tank or reservoir 11, is in the position shown in Figure 3, that is, in a position to the right of the water supply pipe' 18. At this point I find the special post 17 which has a suitable stop 16 at its top engaging the coiled bumper spring 14. Assuming that the tank is full of water and the tender tank comes along, it will be seen that the upstanding bracket 9 will first engage the latch 40 from the keeper 11 and will then engage the shock absorbing spring 15, at about the same time the short bracket 10 will engage the depending arm on'the bell crank 22. In so doing the valve 20 will be opened so that the water will flow out of the tank 11 into the tank 6. However, both of these tanks will move along at a slow rate, until the tank 11 approaches the pivoted arm 37. By this time,all of the water has been emptied into the tender tank, the valve 20 having been held open during this period of travel. Then the spring 39 will engage the upper end of the arm 37 after the tank 11' has climbed up the incline 2 in the rail and assumed a position on the horizontal part 3 in the rail. This will allow the brackets 10 and 11 to clear the parts with which they the tank 11 will be returned by gravity from the rail 1 to its normal osition. At about the time that it reaches t is position, the operating fingers and 36 on the float stem will come into play and will engage the extension 29 and the arm 30, in Figure 4, in succession. As the arm 35 engages the extension 29, a cam action will be produced, lifting the valve 27 and allowing water to flow out of the pipe 18 to refill the tank 11. At this time the valve 20 will, of course be closed. As the tank fills thefioat 34. rises and brings the finger 36 into lay for producing a'second cam action for cosin the valve 27 and cutitng off the supply. T en the apparatus is set for the next operation.

After carefully considering the description ported from said railand movable along the rail, a fioatin said tank, a stem carriedby said float, and curved fingers extending at right angles from said stem and adapted for cooperation with the extension on the operating means for said valve, (I 1 i 2. In a structure of he class described, a suspension rail, a water supply pipe located alongside of the rail and having a control valve, operating meansfor said control valve including an extension, a storage. tank supported from said rail and movable along the rail, a float in said tank, a stem carried by said float, curved fingers extending at right angles from said stem and adapted for cooperation with the extension on the operating means for said valve together with a discharge neck in the bottom of the tank, a valve cooperating with said neck, alink pivoted in V the tank and connected to the valve, a piv- Qtfld bell crank on the exterior of the tank, and an operating connection between the bell crank and link. if

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. SIMON HEIDEN. Q 

